Manafest first caught my attention with his last release, Glory. Songs like "Bounce", "Where Are You?" and "Don't Turn Away" were incredibly solid, but I still never got into the album. That has changed with his new album, Citizens Activ.

I've listened to this album non-stop for four days now. This is the most commercial and accessible Christian rap album I've heard in years, and with Enimem (the obvious comparision here) coming back later this year (*groan*) the timing couldn't be better.

Manafest layers rock, hip-hop and pop styles into an album overflowing with memoriable beats and rhymes. Standout tracks include the rockin' "So Beautiful" (with an awesome video that was filmed to compliment the first single) and "Top Of The World," featuring Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch, with a soaring chorus that says "your love and grace / they comfort me / no one can take it from me". I also dug the intro club track "4321" and the futuristic sound of "Free." The album closes on "Yahweh", a beautiful song that talks about leaning on God in all circumstances.

Overall, this album takes everything we love about KJ-52, everything we hate about Enimem and wraps it in an extreamly tight package that glorifies God, has some fun with everyday relationships and gives Christian rap a new tentpole project to tout.